A former director of elections for Oak Park who allegedly used her office to get $430,000 in fraudulent payments faces federal charges, along with her husband who was allegedly part of the scheme.

Stephanie Sumner and Michael Sumner of Waterford were arraigned this week before U.S. Magistrate Judge Anthony Patti in Detroit on several charges including:

• Conspiracy to defraud the United States

• Fraudulent withholdings of records

• Falsification of records in bankruptcy

Stephanie Sumner is also charged with aiding and assisting the filing of false tax returns.

As stated in a news release, the indictment says that while employed as Oak Park’s director of elections, from 2012 through 2015, Stephanie Sumner’s responsibilities included submitting invoices for payment by the city. She allegedly created false invoices listing her husband, Michael Sumner as vendor-payee.

Just months prior to allegedly carrying out the scheme, the Sumners filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

From about January 2013 to February 2015, checks from the City of Oak Park totaling over $430,000 in payment of the fraudulent invoices were deposited by the couple into their shared bank account.

Independent contractor tax forms weren’t turned over to the bankruptcy trustee, and Stephanie Sumner also failed to report the embezzled funds on the couple’s federal tax returns, the news release states.

Michael Sumner

Michael Sumner pleaded no contest to embezzlement charges in Oakland County Circuit Court in 2015. Stephanie Sumner did the same in 2017. Both are currently listed as on probation by the Michigan Department of Corrections.

Conspiracy to defraud the United States is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. For aiding or assisting in filing false tax returns, the penalty is up to three years in prison and a fine of no more than $100,000.